Universidade Estadual do Vale do Acaraú

Abstract: Antibacterial effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of seeds of moringa (Moringa oleifera) and pods of soursop (Annona muricata) in the concentration of 1:5 and 1:10 in volumes 50, 100, 150 and 200 microL were examined against Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli (isolated from the organism and the aquatic environment) and Salmonella Enteritidis. Antibacterial activity (inhibition halo > 13 mm) against S. aureus, V. cholerae and E. coli isolated from the whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannmaei, was detected in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of moringa. E. coli isolated from tilapiafish, Oreochromis niloticus, was sensitive to the ethanolic extract of moringa. The aqueous extracts of soursop showed an antibacterial effect against S. aureus and V. cholerae, but the antibacterial activity by the ethanol extracts of this plant was not demonstrated.

Abstract: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the aetiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), a debilitating disease of sheep and goats. Accurate diagnosis of CLA primarily relies on microbiological examination, followed by biochemical identification of isolates. In an effort to facilitate C. pseudotuberculosis detection, a multiplex PCR (mPCR) assay was developed targeting three genes of this bacterium: the 16S rRNA gene, rpoB and pld. This method allowed efficient identification of 40 isolates of this bacterium that had been identified previously by biochemical testing. Analysis of taxonomically related species did not generate the C. pseudotuberculosis mPCR amplification profile, thereby demonstrating the assay's specificity. As little as 1 pg of C. pseudotuberculosis genomic DNA was detected by this mPCR assay, demonstrating the sensitivity of the method. The detection limit in clinical samples was estimated to be 10(3) c.f.u. C. pseudotuberculosis could be detected directly in pus samples from infected sheep and goats (n=56) with a high diagnostic sensitivity (94.6 %). The developed assay significantly improves rapid C. pseudotuberculosis detection and could supersede bacteriological culture for microbiological and epidemiological diagnosis of CLA.

Abstract: Superabsorbent hydrogels, based on poly(acrylamide-co-acrylate) filled with cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs), were synthesized by free-radical aqueous copolymerization, using N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm), as crosslinker, and potassium persulfate (K2S2O8), as initiator. A series of hydrogels was synthesized varying the percentage of CNWs (1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 wt.%) and the amount of crosslinking agent (0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 mol.%). The hydrogels were characterized by FTIR and XRD techniques and their morphologies were investigated by SEM images. Superabsorbent hydrogel with Weq > 1195 g H 2 O /ggel was obtained with percentage of 10 wt.% of CNWs and 0.05 mol.% of crosslinking agent. The hydrogel showed to be responsive to the pH-variation (2–12) and also to the presence of salts (NaCl, KCl, MgCl2, and CaCl2). The hydrogel exhibited a pH-responsiveness and cation-sensitivity character so that a swelling–deswelling pulsatile behavior was recorded at pH 2–8 as well as cycles of hydrogel immersion in sodium and calcium salts solutions.

Abstract: Tratou-se de pesquisa exploratorio-descritiva, realizada de outubro a dezembro de 2002, com 216 adolescentes gravidas assistidas pela Estrategia de Saude da Familia dos municipios pertencentes a Microrregiao de Saude de Acarau, Ceara. Objetivou caracterizar o perfil socio-demografico e gineco-obstetrico destas, identificando o motivo que as levou a engravidar, e saber como percebiam sua gravidez. A maior parte destas tinha 17 anos, eram pardas, alfabetizadas, donas-de-casa, tinham companheiro fixo e viviam com menos de um salario minimo. Destas, 32,4% menstruou aos 12 anos, 25% teve a primeira relacao sexual aos 16 anos e, 72,7% estava na primeira gestacao. Destaca-se o desejo de ser mae como principal motivo para engravidar, e a percepcao em relacao a gravidez esta relacionada com felicidade e realizacao pessoal.

Abstract: The protein, a galactose binding lectin made up of a misture of full length chains and endogenous C- and N-terminal fragments, was purified from Vatairea macrocarpa seeds and its properties were studied. A lectin from Vatairea macrocarpa Duke seeds (VML) was isolated using affinity chromatography on a guar gum column. The lectin, a glycoprotein without erythrocyte specificity, displays specificity to galactose and some derivatives. On SDS-polyacrylamide gels, V. macrocarpa seed lectin is composed of two major high- Mr bands of 34 and 32 kDa and two minor low- Mr bands of 22 and 13 kDa. N-Terminal sequencing showed that the 34, 32, and 13 kDa products possess identical N-terminal sequence, which display best similarity with the N-terminal portion of Robinia pseudoacacia lectins (RPL). On the other hand, the N-terminal sequence of the 22 kDa band can be aligned with an internal sequence of RPL starting at residue 149 of the cDNA-derived sequence. These data indicate that, like other leguminous lectins, VML is made up of a mixture of onechain 30–35 kDa glycoforms and of 22 and 13 kDa endogenous C- and N-terminal fragments. Size-exclusion chromatography indicated that, at neutral pH, VML is predominantly a dimeric (70 kDa) protein, although tetramers (115 kDa) and larger aggregates (300 kDa) were also present.